vs small tortoiseshell

Chrysococcus diaphanus compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Chromista (色藻界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (淡色藻门)	Arthropoda (节肢动物门)
Class	Chrysophyceae (丽生菌纲)	Insecta (昆蟲綱)
Order	Chromulinales (色金藻目)	Lepidoptera (鱗翅目)
Family	Dinobryaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Chrysococcus	Aglais
Species	Chrysococcus diaphanus	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Chrysococcus diaphanus is a loricate chrysophyte alga in the genus Chrysococcus, family Chromulinaceae. The epithet diaphanus (Greek/Latin: transparent or see-through) describes the delicate, translucent quality of the lorica that encloses the cell body. This silica-reinforced or organic covering is a diagnostic feature of the genus, encasing the photosynthetic protoplast while allowing the flagellum to project through an apical aperture. C. diaphanus is found in freshwater and brackish environments, with records from Scandinavian and northern European lakes and ponds. Chrysophytes of the loricate type are common in oligotrophic and subarctic freshwaters, where they form a regular component of the flagellated phytoplankton and nanoplankton communities. The genus Chrysococcus includes species that range from purely phototrophic to fully heterotrophic, with many displaying intermediate mixotrophic strategies depending on light availability and prey abundance. Loricated chrysophytes are also valuable in paleolimnology because the siliceous cysts and scales they produce are preserved in lake sediments for millennia, recording past environmental conditions. The species has not been formally assessed for conservation status and is listed as Not Evaluated by the IUCN.